Posts Tagged ‘Smoking Cessation’

We all know that smoking is bad for a person’s health. We also know that smoking can be an incredibly difficult habit to kick. For this reason, I have decided to write about quitting smoking.

There are over 392,000 people a year who die from tobacco-caused diseases. Another 50,000 people die every year from secondhand smoke.

There are many advantages to quit smoking. These benefits include reduction in the risk of cancer and heart disease. Smoking cessation also helps people with high blood pressure and those with respiratory problems such as COPD or asthma.

There are many different ways that people quit smoking and there are a lot of valuable resources available to help a person quit. There are several websites which give advice to help quit smoking. There are also hotlines people can call to help them quit. Additionally, healthcare professionals, like pharmacists and doctors, can provide guidance to make quitting easier.

It is often recommended that people make a plan for quitting before they try to quit. The best method is to plan ahead and pick a date when the person wants to stop smoking. The smoker should also let those close to them know that they are going to stop smoking so that they have a support system around them to help them quit.

Additionally, it is recommended that smokers think about what type of things make them feel like they need to smoke. When they decide to quit smoking, they need to try to avoid these triggers. Many people also say that it is helpful to come up with ways to cope with any cravings or withdrawal symptoms when they stop smoking.

A couple of treatment options that people use to help them stop smoking are nicotine replacement therapy and prescription medications.

The idea behind nicotine replacement therapy is using smaller amounts of nicotine than are in normal cigarettes (or whatever form of nicotine a person uses) to help a person avoid withdrawals when trying to stop smoking. The amount of nicotine that a person uses from nicotine replacement therapy reduces over time until it reaches a point where they no longer need nicotine and do not have any withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine replacement therapy can include patches, gum, lozenges, and inhalers. The amount of nicotine that a person is used to using determines the level a person will start at with nicotine replacement therapy. A physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider can help a person get started with nicotine replacement therapy.

There are also prescription only medications that doctors will prescribe people to help them quit smoking. The two most common medications doctors prescribe are Chantix and bupropion. This is an option that can be discussed with a doctor.

Stop by the pharmacy and let us know if there is anything we can do to help you quit smoking. Ask us any questions you may have about stopping.